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2023-2024 Field Trips in Santa Cruz Area State Parks are Now Available!

At Natural Bridges State Beach, our team of incredibly passionate interpreters (educators) are here to make your programs, whether virtual or in-person, deep, meaningful, memorable, and fun. See below to book a virtual or in-person program. We can’t wait to see you here!

Please Note: If you would like to customize your program to better fit your curriculum please contact the Natural Bridges visitor center at 831-423-0871 or naturalbridges@ports-ca.us.

In-Person Programs

Register for an In-Person Field Trip!

Program Options: 

Monarch Butterflies: Join a California State Park Interpreter for a 1 hour guided field trip to the Monarch Butterfly sanctuary. During the field trip you will be introduced to the amazing monarch butterfly. Students will learn about the monarch life cycle and migration and why the monarchs overwinter at Natural Bridges. Students will also learn what they can do to help with monarch conservation. 

This program involves a brief presentation followed by a short walk to our nectar garden and then down a wooden boardwalk to the Monarch Grove. This program can be adapted to be NGSS appropriate for your K-12 classes. NGSS Standards addressed with this program include K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1;1-LS1-2, 2-LS2-2, 4-LS1-1; HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-6, and HS-LS4-5. We highly recommend that you and your students engage in a virtual program in advance of or following your in-person visit. View available virtual programs.

Please note: Our program is designed to accommodate a maximum of 35 students and chaperones per class or 70 students for multiple classes. If you plan to bring multiple groups of students, we recommend that you reserve multiple tours on the same day. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach us at naturalbridges@ports-ca.us or call (831) 423-0871.

Tidepools: Join a California State Park Interpreter for a 1.5 hour guided field trip to the rocky intertidal zone. During the field trip you will be introduced to the species and habitat of the tidepools through games and activities before venturing out into the tidepools to explore. Students will learn the importance of Marine Protected Areas for conserving tidepool life and how they can make a difference in protecting our environment.

The 15 minute walk to the tidepools includes sand and slightly uneven rocks. This program can be adapted to be NGSS appropriate for your K-12 classes. NGSS Standards addressed with this program include K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS1-1, 4-LS1-1, 5-PS3-1, 5-LS2-1, MS-LS1-1, MS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-1, HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-6, and HS-LS4-5. We highly recommend that you and your students engage in a virtual field trip in advance of or following their in-person visit. View available virtual programs.

Please note: Our program is designed to accommodate a maximum of 35 students and chaperones. If you plan to bring more than 35 students, we recommend that you reserve multiple tours on the same day. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach us at naturalbridges@ports-ca.us or call (831) 423-0871.

Virtual Programs

Register for a Virtual Field Trip!

Program Options:

Monarch Butterflies: During this program, your students will have the chance to discover the life cycle, migration, adaptations, and conservation of monarch butterflies here at Natural Bridges and all across the state. This one hour program is facilitated by California State Park Interpreters live from our park. NGSS standards that are typically covered with this program include: K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-2, 2-LS2-2, 3-LS3-2, and 4-LS1-1. This program can be adapted to be NGSS appropriate for your K-12 classes.

Tidepools: During this program, you and your students will discover tidepool adaptations and zonation at Natural Bridges State Beach. This hour-long program will guide you and your students through the intertidal zone and the unique species that call this place home. Please let us know if there are any specific topics you would like us to discuss with your students. NGSS standards that are typically covered with this program include: K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS1-1, 4-LS1-1, 5-PS3-1, 5-LS2-1, MS-LS1-1, MS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-1, HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-6, and HS-LS4-5. This program can be adapted to be NGSS appropriate for your K-12 classes.

Please note: If you have questions or concerns regarding your program, contact us at 831-423-0871 or naturalbridges@ports-ca.us.


This is a Kids2Parks Participating Park! 

Kids2Park LogoKids2Parks is an innovative park-equity program to bring students from Title 1 schools to State Park field trips. The program, a partnership between California State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, increases the number of students who have visited a state park or beach by reducing barriers to access. The program offers transportation funding for field trips to select Title 1 schools in Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. For more information, and to apply, please visit www.thatsmypark.org/visit/k2p.